'I love this country' Hero who tackled knife attack suspect longs to stay in UK

Two weeks ago Abdullah, a Pakistani man living in the UK, was watching the news in fear. Far-right rioting had spread across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with mosques attacked and hotels housing asylum seekers set alight.

- Neha Gohil

After a horrific knife attack on children in Southport last month, disinformation spread quickly on social media falsely claiming the perpetrator was a Muslim seeking asylum in the UK.

"Everyone was concerned, scared. They were scared of going to the mosque. They were not able to do their religious obligations," said the security guard, who lives in London. "Especially my friends who are living in Manchester and in the north, they were more concerned because there were more protests there."

Little did Abdullah know that just days after the riots had appeared to subside, he would be at the centre of another appalling story involving an attack on a child. But the 29-year-old was not to be a blame figure, rather one praised for his bravery and selflessness.

The incident in London's Leicester Square left a 34-yearold mother and her 11-year-old daughter in hospital, the latter with serious stab wounds.

Abdullah, who was guarding the nearby TWG tea shop, tackled a 32-year-old man who has since been charged with attempted murder. After the suspect's arrest, TV crews interviewed Abdullah about the scenes that had unfolded before him, and in which he had bravely intervened.